Summary: We underestimate its power. It can change the outcome and the atmosphere. It can determine victory. What sound is your life producing?

As you will remember we began this series last week by talking about Sound Doctrine. We said that sound is powerful. Genesis teaches us from moment one that sound isn't just for communication but has power in it. Sound sets atmosphere and mood. I stated that our problem is that our world has learned to harness the power of sound more effectively than the children of God.

So I challenged you out of the account of Joshua's instructions at Jericho to learn that sound precedes victory. If you lose your shout you lose victory. You must sound victorious even before you are victorious. Your shout can't resemble your situation but rather your situation will line up with your shout! Anyone have a shout left this morning?

I told you that silence is for a season. There is nothing wrong with seasonal silence. However, I am concerned that some of you have accepted silence as a substitute for sound. The enemy will try to keep you quiet so he can keep you in bondage. And so I challenged us as a body to release the sound that is in us. Our level of victory, our ability to take territory is directly linked to our sound and while we are waiting on God to touch things He is waiting on us to speak to things! Make a sound!

So this morning I want to take you into another familiar sound section of Scripture and talk to you about Sound Seep!

16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that.

19-22 When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

22-24 The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

25-26 Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

27-28 Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”

29-31 The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”

32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.

a. Your sound can't be tied to your sight!

Paul and Silas visibly had no reason to sing. They had been falsely accused. They had been arrested on trumped up charges. They were beaten until their backs were bloody and broken. They are in chains which had to be uncomfortable and painful. What they saw didn't lend itself to a song. Yet their sound wasn't tied to their sight. Their sound was tied to their spirit!